Accidental death in Tudor England

Oxford University historian, Dr. Steven Gunn, has undertaken the task of scouring 16th Century coroners' reports to compile a list of accidental deaths in Tudor, England. The list includes death by bears and archery accidents.

Among the most unusual was the victim of a falling Maypole.

The study also offers a possible inspiration for William Shakespeare's character of Ophelia in Hamlet. (See SCAtoday.net story "Was Jane Shaxspere the inspiration for Ophelia?" linked below.